2mm Archives - Revolution Trains

Posted on 30/04/202302/05/2023 by Ben Ando

Revolution PEP joins ‘PEPs on Tour’!

Revolution Trains was delighted to support the Class 313 Farewell ‘PEPs on Tour: Sussex Rambler’ event on the South coast this weekend.

The 313 Farewell Railtour passes Bedelands Nature Reserve, Burgess Hill. Photo courtesy Jonathan Hughes.

The railtour was organised by the Branch Line Society and Southern to celebrate the Class 313 PEP (Prototype Electro-Pneumatic) units, that have served generations of commuters and travellers since the mid-1970s.

The PEPs pioneered many now commonplace features such as dual voltage traction and powered doors. For most of their service lives they operated in and around London, however in recent years they enjoyed something of a renaissance on Southern’s ‘Coastway’ route, having been refurbished by Southern and owners Beacon Rail Leasing.

313211 at Brighton in Southern Coastway colours.

In Scotland the similar Class 314s performed likewise.

For some time they have been the oldest units on the network still in squadron service, but they are set to bow out in the upcoming mid-May timetable change.

The railtour took us from Brighton, along the western stretch of the coastway route to Portsmouth Harbour, back to Three Bridges via Littlehampton then across to Hastings, Eastbourne and Newhaven Marine, before returning to Brighton. (Tour images at Hastings and River Arun at Ford courtesy Foulger Rail/Creative Commons)

The tour generated enormous interest, with photographers and enthusiasts waiting at most stations, and internet celebrity trainspotter Francis Bourgouis was one of those on board – patiently posing for photographs at every stop, with young and not-so-young fellow enthusiasts.

It also raised £25,000 for Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice and The Railway Children charities, through ticket sales and an onboard auction which included among its prizes a voucher for an N gauge model of the Class 313 provided by Revolution Trains – congratulations to all lucky winners!

Francis Bourgeois with three annoying hangers-on.

The Revolution Trains N gauge Class 313 ad 314 PEP unit models are now nearing production, and we expect to close the order book in the next 4-8 weeks. We were delighted to support the tour and join hundreds of others in celebrating these stalwart units. And of course it was a great chance to compare with our decorated sample!

We expect to have decorated samples of other models being offered – including Network Southeast, Silverlink and Southern, in the next few days.

All being well these will be on display at the N Gauge Society’s Celebration of N Gauge at the National Railway Museum, York, over the weekend May 13th and 14th, so anyone still undecided who may wish to pre-order can examine them personally. Come and see us there!

Our class 313/314 PEP models can still be pre-ordered at the low pre-production price of £225 (DC with Next18 socket and speaker) or £320 (DCC Sound fitted) using the button below. (Please remember to use separate orders for different types of model, though different liveries or numbers of the same item can be mixed. Thanks!)

Purchase an N gauge Class 313 or Class 314 EMU

Posted on 18/01/202318/01/2023 by Mike Hale

Tanks and Zander inbound plus other delivery updates

No sooner was the Christmas holiday period over and we’re now heading rapidly towards Chinese New Year. Many of you may be aware that Chinese New Year is a holiday period in China [where the majority of models are produced] and the factories tend to shut temporarily for the holiday. That seems an appropriate point to update you on where we’ve reached with various models in production. If the model you’re looking for an update on isn’t featured below then please head over to our Project overview page which has the latest information on all our models.

*Class A and B tanks with the NGS’s Hunslet shunter – a nice small layout in the making?*

OO/4mm IPA car carriers and Ecofret container flats – we’ve spent a lot of time recently sending out IPA car carriers and FWA Ecofret container flats. All paid for orders should have been sent out now – please let us know if you are missing either your order or your balance invoice, the exception to that are international orders where we have been struggling to get models sent out due to various issues with Royal Mail. We’re investigating alternatives for international orders and will be in contact with affected customers where necessary.

N/2mm Class A/B tanks and Zander aggregate wagons – production is complete and we’ve approved production samples. The models are in transit from the factory and we expect them to arrive in the next week or so. If you pre-ordered Class A tanks or Zander aggregate box wagons from us we will be sending out any balance invoices over the next few days – prompt payment allows us to get your order out more quickly. The Class B tanks will be going out to retailers around the same time – we’ve also made them slightly lighter following customer feedback from the first run of Class B tanks.

N/2mm IIA-D Drax biomass hoppers – the majority of the production is complete and is also in transit to the UK and expected in the next week or so. These wagons are available exclusively from Rails of Sheffield.

OO/4mm Caroline – we had a slight delay with PCBs for the lighting circuits on Caroline which has now been resolved and the models are in the final stages of production. As soon as we have an updated expected delivery date we will update our website.

OO/4mm TUAs – production of the TUAs exclusively for Rainbow Railways is complete, however during our final checks of production samples we discovered some slight problems with some of the tampo printing (around colour density of some of the printing). Rather than send out a not quite right model we’ve agreed with the factory that they will re-work the liveries on the affected models – this will add a bit of a delay while the models are corrected and we now expect to receive the tanks around April – May (depending on how long the corrections take).

N/2mm Mk 5 Caledonian Sleeper and TPE coaches – the Mk 5s are in the final stages of production and we expect the models to leave the factory in March/April (which would have them arrive in the UK during April-May).

N/2mm Pendolino second run – the Virgin liveried Pendolinos are ready to leave the factory but might not make it out of the door before Chinese New Year. If they don’t make it out then they might arrive all versions together – we’ll let you know as soon as we hear from our friends at Rapido.

N/2mm Class 59 – we’ve agreed a production slot with the factory for the 59s so our order book will close on 31 March 2023.

After the resumption of the factories in February we expect a lot of progress on various models so keep an eye out on future updates!

Posted on 23/11/202223/11/2022 by Mike Hale

Welcome back Warley!

Warley is back! The UK’s largest model railway show returns to the NEC after a forced three-year hiatus and Revolution will be there on stand C15 – come and see us!

We will have two new brochures free to collect – one dedicated to our offerings in 00 gauge, and one to N gauge.

We will have all the latest samples to view including the first decorated sample of our OO/4mm FNA-D nuclear flask carriers (we will publish more images on our website next week) and the first EP sample of the N gauge version as well as many other samples.

*OO gauge/4mm scale FNA-D livery sample*

*N gauge/2mm scale engineering prototype (EP) sample*

If you would like to collect an order for OO/4mm IPA car carriers or Ecofret container flats (or any other in stock items) please send us an email by 7pm Thursday 24 November – we will confirm if it is possible or not.

Each

Posted on 10/06/202207/07/2022 by Ben Ando

Special Delivery…

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming Class 128 Parcels cars in N gauge.

Full line-up of Class 128 models. Photo: Jacques Portal/Model Rail.

Revolution is offering six versions in a selection of liveries and in both Midland Region centre headcode and Western Region gangwayed versions to cover the lifespans and locations of these esoteric and well-liked units.

Midland region 55987 with centre headcode (left) and Western region gangwayed 55994 with split headcode in original green with whiskers.

Although only a small number were built (4 for the Midland region, 6 for the Western region) these units travelled far and their appearance changed significantly when the gangways were plated and the headcode boxes replaced by marker lights. Revolution has tooled for all variations.

55991 in BR Blue with headcode boxes replaced by headlights

BR blue era modellers can choose between Midland 55990 with original headcode box showing plain ‘dominoes’ or WR 55991 with headcode boxes removed and replaced with marker lights.

In the 1980s several were painted into an eye-catching Royal Mail red livery with striped double doors, and Revolution is offering two versions: 55992 and 55993.

55992 (right) with gangway and marker lights, 55993 with fully removed and plated over gangway front. Photo courtesy Jacques Portal/Model Rail.

The Midland versions did not receive Royal Mail red as all were withdrawn in the late 1970s and early 1980s, however the Western region versions lasted roughly another decade.

Primary colours: Versions available in green, blue and red. Photo courtesy Jacques Portal/Model Rail.

Naturally the models will feature our usual specification of Next-18 decoder interface, directional working lights and NEM coupler sockets. In addition the models feature highly realistic buffer beam details and pipes, most of which will be factory fitted. We have photographed the models with the couplers removed in most cases to show off the detail, but couplers will of course be provided as the prototypes often ran with a BG or a couple of parcels vans in tow.

As well as variations in the gangways, lights, buffer heads and exhausts, previously mentioned, the Revolution models feature an underframe packed with separately fitted parts and attention to detail you’d expect.

The chassis has a Next-18 decoder socket and although only one bogie is powered under test it has pulled 8 heavy bogie tankers with ease.

All versions can be reserved from our shop at the pre-production price of £135. Models will be available later from retailers, but at a higher price to include their margin.

Purchase N Gauge Class 128 parcels unit

These samples will be on display at the DEMU Showcase exhibition at Sutton Coldfield in July and at TINGS in September, after which the order book will be closed and the models will go into production.

Posted on 30/04/202204/05/2022 by Ben Ando

A different class…

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of the 35t Class A fuel tankers and MTV/ZKA Zander box wagons which are scheduled to go into production shortly.

Class B tank (left) and new Class A tank in original Esso silver. The Class B tank has the top details that are absent from the Class A. Note that the solebar of the Class A tanker will be painted red for production.

The Class As are designed to partner our award winning Class B tankers from 2017, as following their introduction from the late 1950s the two types often worked together, with the Class A tankers having a longer barrel as they carried lighter, more volatile fuel.

Class B and Class A tanks at Thameshaven in 1960. Photo Robin Webster used under Creative Commons.

The barrels sent for checking have been posted on Class B sanple chassis for photography; the production models will have the correct red solebars as shown in the painting diagrams.

Artwork for Esso revised livery with grey barrel

You may also notice the sample models are missing the photo-etched catwalks and ladders, and moulded manlids and vents (of two different types), that will be featured on production models. As with the original Class B models the chassis will feature either the original or revised suspension as appropriate.

As well as the original silver and revised grey Esso versions, these are still available to pre-order in Staveley Chemicals, Esso de-branded and weedkilling green or black variants.

Chipman’s weedkilling train water tanks in green and black variations .

In the British Railways modernisation plan of 1955 a need was identified for new, faster power-braked wagons and with the rapid growth in requirements for petrochemicals Esso and Charles Roberts Ltd jointly developed a new design of 35t tank wagons. The Class A tankers were used for lighter, more volatile fuels, and the barrels were therefore longer than the Class Bs designed for heavier fuel oils.

BR 2-10-0 92019 at Hartford in 1965 with a mixed rake of Esso Class A & Class B tankers. Photo Ben Brooksbank/Creative Commons.

The addition of Class A tankers to our range enables the accurate depiction of fuel trains from the late 1950s and 1960s which often ran with a mix of both types. If a Class A tank was marshalled at the front then planked open wagons were included to act as barriers to protect the traincrew in the event of an accident. If the train was double headed the barrier wagons were not necessary as the second locomotive provided the required separation.

BRCW type 3s D6527 + D6505, at Oxford with a mixed train destined for Fawley in 1964. Photo Ben Brooksbank/Creative Commons.

In the mid-1970s, as higher capacity tank wagons entered service, 150 redundant tank wagons were converted to box opens to carry stone and sand, and given the TOPS code MTV.

In the late 1980s many were transferred to the engineer’s fleet, recoded ZKV and given the fishkind name Zander.

Revolution is offering these box wagons in original brown, engineer’s revised versions with yellow top rail and fully repainted Dutch variants. Various individual wagons are being offered, with numerous subtle differences including patch painting and varied labelling.

ZKV Zanders in later CE ‘Dutch’ livery, one with ‘Mainline’ branding

The full listing of liveries on offer can be found on our shop page, and these wagons can be still be reserved with Revolution for a short period at the pre-order price of £19.95 each, or for some versions in triple sets with different numbers at £59.85.

In addition, a further run of Class B tankers will be produced to accompany these models, however the Class Bs will be on sale via retailers in the usual way.

We anticipate that Class A and MTV/ZKV models will be available from retailers too after production, but at a higher price.

Posted on 25/02/202208/09/2022 by Ben Ando

Revolution goes ahead – with Adelante and Coradia!

Revolution Trains is offering the Class 180 ‘Adelante’ and Class 175 ‘Coradia’ units as its next multiple unit models in both 00 and N.

Grand Central Class 180 ‘Adelante’ – photo courtesy Hugh Llewelyn under Creative Commons

Both families of units were buit by Alstom in Birmingham and share numerous similarities in design, meaning that many parts can be shared between the models to make them both viable.

CAD work on the N gauge models is almost complete; the 00 version will follow soon afterwards.

Class 180 with lower fairing cover removed

Prototype history

The Class 175 and Class 180 are both members of the Alstom Coradia family of units and share many common features and parts.

27 Class 175 units, in a mix of two and three car configurations, were ordered by First North Western in 1997 with the first delivered in 1999. They were used on services between Birmingham, Holyhead, Llandudno, Manchester and Barrow.

175006 passes Anglesey Aluminium while 60020 waits with a train of IWA vans. The vans are the type recently produced by Revolution in 00 and N and available from selected retailers. Photo courtesy Ken Minffordd.

Later they transferred to Arriva Trains Wales and were introduced on the Welsh Marches line to Cardiff, reaching Fishguard and the Pembroke Coast. Since 2018 they have been in the service of Transport for Wales and are now seen from south west Wales and Holyhead across to Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham International.

175002 in Transport for Wales livery at Abergavenny. Photo by Jeremy Segrott used under creative commons.

The Class 180 units are a 5-car 125mph high-speed express member Coradia family. 14 sets were ordered by First Great Western and given the brand name ‘Adelante’, which means ‘go ahead’ in Spanish and explains our terrible headline pun above. Intended for high speed express services to sout Wales, they were plagued by technical problems and later used for fast commuter trains from Oxford, Gloucester and Exeter to London.

180106 at Reading. Photo by Hugh Llewelyn used under creative commons.

Between 2008 and 2020 Hull Trains used four Class 180s, though these units have recently been transferred to East Midlands railway and are now in use between London St Pancras, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.

180108 at Harringay. Photo by Hugh Llewelyn, used under creative commons.

In 2009 Grand Central introduced two units for its services between London Kings Cross, Sunderland and Bradford, and now has ten in operation in its striking black and orange livery.

Like the prototype, the Revolution Class 175 and 180 will share many common features, including full interiors, working and switchable headlights, tail lights and interior saloon lights as standard and kinematic power couplers allowing the entire train to be controlled by a single DCC decoder.

The models will be fitted with a low-profile chassis, allowing interiors to be depicted on all cars, and Next-18 (N) or Plux-22 (00) decoders. The decoder will accessed via an underfloor panel to make fitting or changing simple. In addition all models will be have factory-fitted speakers for simple sound upgrades.

DCC decoder socket and lighting control switches below the floor for easy access.

The Class 180s will have a similar specification to the 175s.

Revolution plans to offer a selection of versions, though the exact line up has not yet been confirmed.

Class 180 – First Great Western launch livery.

Class 180 – First Group ‘dynamic lines’ livery.

The order book will be opening very shortly in both scales, and as ever we will be offering a low EarlyBird price to reward those who step up and pre-order.

Revolution Trains would like to thank Alsom, Transport for Wales and Grand Central for their assistance in producing this model.

Posted on 16/01/202216/01/2022 by Mike Hale

Need a little PEP-ping up for 2022?

We’ve said for a long time that we didn’t want to put a further EMU on sale until we’d delivered our Class 320s and 321s (much delayed due to a change of factory and then Covid). With the first batch of 320s/321s due to leave China at any point now and the first EP sample of our 313/314 sneaking into the UK recently we thought now was a good time to open the order book for the 313s and 314s.

The EP sample doesn’t show all the tooling differences in terms of lights and with or without NRN roof pods but gives a good flavour of the units!

The model features: working, directional lights (with different appropriate styles for each version – original or revised) with some user switchable lighting functions; a low profile drive unit (in centre car); kinematic close coupling with electrical connections between cars; detailed interior; realistic pantograph and a DCC decoder socket (Next 18).

The 313s and 314s are all on sale from the N gauge pre-order section of our Shop in a variety of liveries as previously announced (313s: blue/grey; NSE; Silverlink/London Overground; First Capital Connect/Great Northern; Southern. 314s: Strathclyde orange; ScotRail Saltire).

**Want to get an early-bird discount? Place your order by 13 March 2022!**

If you want to take advantage of our early-bird discount please place your order by 13 March 2022!

If the version that you want isn’t available yet then we hope to announce some retailer exclusives shortly – you’ve probably spotted that the Network Rail yellow, “modern” Southern Blue/Grey and T7 translator vehicle sets are not in this announcement!

Posted on 30/12/202115/01/2022 by Ben Ando

Revolution Class 59 takes shape…

Revolution Trains has received the first Engineering Prototype (EP1) sample of our forthcoming Class 59 diesel in N gauge.

The EP is designed to check the fit of parts, their appearance and the basic performance of the drivetrain, and overall we consider this to be an excellent start, though of course there are areas that will be improved before the next stage of livery sampling.

Specific areas we have identified for improvement are the wheels, the fit of some of the etches (the roof grille was damaged in transit as the packaging that will secure and protect production models is not available yet) and there are some minor blemishes on the body tooling, though this is not unusual as the metal moulds have not yet received a final ‘finishing’ polish.

Like the real thing, the centre cover is easily removed to facilitate access to the Next-18 DCC socket and the light switches that allow DC users to control the tail lights and cab interior lights.

The eagle-eyed will have spotted that this EP is something of a Frankenstein locomotive – combining early pattern Class 59/0 bogies, with Class 59/1 bodyshell and Class 59/2 centre cover. It is not unusual for EP samples to combine parts in this way; naturally details will be combined correctly for specific locomotives at the production stage.

All models supplied with factory fitted sound speaker located in the fuel tank.

Nevertheless, in general we are delighted with the overall look and shape of the model which we feel has captured the character of these powerful and distinctive locomotives. The next step is to finalise the livery diagrams so that decorated samples can be prepared.

Eight liveries (with two running numbers for each) are being offered by Revolution Trains at our low pre-order price of £124.95 (£219.95 with DCC sound fitted).

Pre-order your Class 59 from Revolution Trains

CLASS 59/0

59001 Yeoman Endeavour in original condition with bell. Foster Yeoman livery. Also available: 59002 Yeoman Enterprise.

59004 Paul A Hammond with updated bogies, yaw dampers, roof pods and exhaust. Revised Foster Yeoman livery. Also available: 59005 Kenneth J Painter, with different roof pod arrangement.

59005 Kenneth J Painter in present condition. Aggregate Industries livery. Also available: 59001 Yeoman Endeavour.

CLASS 59/0

59102 Village of Chantry . ARC Southern livery. Also available: 59104 Village of Great Elm.

59101 Village of Whatley. Hanson livery. Also available: 59103 Village of Mells.

Class 59/2

59203 Vale of Pickering. Model features paired door handles, cosmetic buckeye coupler and correct roof pods. Also available: 59204 Vale of Glamorgan.

59202 Alan Meddows Taylor. DB red livery. Also available: 59201.

59203. Freightliner G&W livery. Also available: 59206 John F Yeoman.

In addition, Class 59/2 locomotives in original National Power livery can be ordered exclusively from Rainbow Railways, and unique locomotive 59003 in two versions of GBRf’s colours can be ordered from Rails of Sheffield.

We are anticipating delivery of the models in Q4 2022 or Q1 2023, though at the present time delivery schedules are harder to estimate due to problems with Covid and worldwide logistics chains.

Posted on 11/09/202110/09/2021 by Mike Hale

Going underground! 1938 stock in N gauge.

Revolution Trains is delighted to introduce the first RTR underground trains available in N gauge with our forthcoming model of the iconic and distinctive 1938 stock.

Over 1100 cars of 1938 stock were built with additional cars built/converted during the 1950s to supplement the original batch. The 38 stock was primarily designed for “deep” tube lines on the Bakerloo, Northern, Piccadilly and Central lines though 38 stock was also used on the East London sub-surface line during the 1970s. Despite being deep tube stock the 1938 stock regularly ran above ground particularly at the northern ends of the Northern and Bakerloo lines alongside sub-surface and mainline stock. The final 1938 stock was withdrawn from service by London Underground in 1988 following 50 years of service with a 4 car set preserved by London Underground.

1938 stock running on the Bakerloo line at Harlesden. Photo courtesy of SP Smiler, WikiCommons

Despite the long service on LU lines in 1988 10 pairs of 38 stock were sold to BR for future use on the Isle of Wight. This saw the 1938 stock slightly modified for use on the IoW where they saw a remarkable further 30+ years of service with the final sets withdrawn in January 2021.

483001 at Ryde St John’s Road shortly after introduction in 1989. Photo courtesy of Keith Edkins and reused under a Creative Commons licence

We plan to offer sets in original LT red, Network SouthEast and Island liveries.

Our model is undergoing final CAD corrections and once those are complete we will open the order book (expected to be late Q4 2021). Our model will feature highly detailed bodyshells, separate flush-glazing, moulded interiors with
working head, tail and saloon lighting.

We were very grateful to be given access to Ryde depot before these venerable units went out of service.

Revolution Trains would like to thank South Western Railway and TfL for their assistance and support.

Posted on 11/09/202110/09/2021 by Mike Hale

All steel K-type Pullmans in N!

Revolution is delighted to reveal its next range of N gauge coaches will be the much requested all steel ‘K-type’ Pullman coaches. The K-type Pullmans were the first all steel construction Pullmans in the UK.

Parlour First “Zena” in the VSOE set at Bristol Temple Meads in April 2012. Photo courtesy of Hugh Llewelyn, Creative Commons CC BY-SA2.0 licence

Metropolitan Cammell built 29 Pullman cars of 5 different body types: Kitchen 1sts and 3rds, Parlour 1sts and 3rds and Parlour Brake 3rds – we will offer all 5 body types in train packs to allow prototypical formations to be assembled.

A further 4 cars (81-84) were built in 1931 for the Bournemouth Belle – we will include these if feasible from the tooling.

Bournemouth Belle with a mix of styles of Pullman cars. Photo courtesy of Ben Brooksbank, Creative Commons licence

Some of the K-types were used by the GWR on Ocean-Liner and Torquay Pullman services from 1929, but perhaps the more famous use was by the LNER and then BR in services such as the Queen of Scots, Tees-Tyne Pullman, Yorkshire Pullman and Master Cutler. By the mid-late 1960s some of the K-types were being used with other Pullman types (particularly the brakes) but unfortunately some were disposed of for scrap. A few of the K-types continue to see service in the Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE) and a number survive to this day in preservation.

Queen of Scots Pullman train in 1955. Photo courtesy of Ben Brooksbank, Creative Commons licence

Our model will feature the same high levels of detail as our Mark 5 coaches and include interior lighting and working table lamps. We expect the order book for the K-type Pullmans to open late Q4 2021 – Q1 2022.

Posted on 03/08/202117/08/2021 by Mike Hale

Sonic Models 56xx – DCC decoder compatibility update

Sonic Models have just advised us that the 6 pin socket on PCB may be offset a little bit on some models. It may cause a difficulty to re-assemble the body shell after fitting the suggested decoder (Bachmann right-angle decoder 36-556RA) because the inner space is very tight on such a small loco.

After further checks of current 6 pin decoders, there are 3 version with a very small size, they are:

ZIMO 6 pin decoder direct MX616N

ESU 6 pin decoder direct 59827

One customer has reported that an alternative is to remove a small amount of plastic from the decoder socket so that the body can sit flat and enables the original suggested decoder to fit correctly.

Sonic Models apologises for any inconvenience that this may cause customers.

Posted on 16/07/202116/07/2021 by Mike Hale

Any more for any more…Class B tanks?

We’re delighted to announce as part of the NGF Virtual Exhibition 2021 that we will be re-running our award-winning Class B 35t tanks. These popular Class B 35t tanks were introduced in the mid-1950s and lasted until the early 1990s.

In a change to our normal practice we will not be accepting direct pre-orders and all orders to go through a normal retail channel. We will still only produce according to pre-orders so if you want to guarantee your order please place it before the order deadline (to be confirmed in due course but likely to be September/October 2021) with your preferred retailer. Our MSRP is kept the same as the first run at £26.95.

We are offering the same livery selection as the first run but all versions will have different numbers to the original run. NB there are 4 number versions of the Esso livery to reflect the popularity of that livery in the first run. All other versions we are offering 2 number versions with prototypical livery and labelling variations.

For the second run we will offer the following versions:

Esso livery: 3300, 3305, 3546 and 3705 (Era 5-7)

Mobil Charringtons: 202 (with black Charringtons label as shown) and 249 (with white Charringtons label) (Era 5-6)

Unbranded black with ZRW TOPS code for depot waste fuel oil: ADB999065 and ADB999073 (Era 7-8)

Regent: 375 and 404 (Era 5-6)

Texaco: TEX47878 and TEX47859 (Era 6-7)

United Molasses: UM204 (with brown barrel ends) and UM258 (with blue barrel ends) (Era 6-8)

The models will go into production alongside our forthcoming Class A tanks and MTV/ZKV Zander wagons and we estimate delivery will be Q1 2022.

The following retailers have already agreed to start taking pre-orders: C&M Models, Derails, East Somerset Models, Hattons, Kernow MRC, KMS Railtech, Rails of Sheffield, Rainbow Railways, TMC. If your preferred retailer is not on the list please ask them to send us an email to ask about stocking the Class B tanks.

Please remember to place your pre-order with your retailer if you would like to guarantee your order!

Posted on 08/07/202108/07/2021 by Mike Hale

New containers come floating into stock!

Following on from our range of N gauge containers developed with C Rail Intermodal our latest collaborations have just landed in stock and are now available to order from our shop. Two new liveries of our very popular 20ft tank containers: Eurotainer and Bertschi liveries; and two more liveries on our 40ft hicube containers: Hyundai and TEX.

Whilst updating the stock of the new versions we’ve also found a very small number of some previous liveries of tank container (Nichicon) and hicube (Hanjin, UASC and MSC) but only a very limited stock! We’ve still got reasonable stocks of our most recent containers the 30′ bulk containers and 40′ refrigerated “reefer” containers.

All the containers can be ordered now from our Shop – just click on Shop then follow the navigation: 2mm/N gauge In Stock to see the containers available.

Posted on 25/06/202129/09/2021 by Ben Ando

Mullets with style – in 00 and N!

Revolution Trains is offering the BR Borail EB/EC ‘fishbelly’ flat wagons, and air-braked YLA Mullet, YQA Parr and YQA Super Tench derivatives, as its next wagon in both 00 and N gauges. These wagons were introduced at the end of the 1950s and many remain in use now, albeit rebuilt.

25140 with BR Borail wagons in mixed train at Loughborough. Photo courtesy John Dedman.

These wagons were built in batches between 1959 and 1961. The original Borails were either fitted with five bolsters (Borail EB, diag 1/483 ) or had plain decks (Borail EC, diag 1/482) and were used primarily for pre-stressed concrete beams, girders or lengths of rail. They were fitted with 8′ plate bogies and vacuum brakes, and in the 1970s coded BRV under TOPS.

Revolution BR Borail EB with bolsters, chain loops and plate bogies

BR Borail BRV at Workington. Photo courtesy Paul Bartlett.

In 1981-2 150 BRV wagons were fitted with air brakes, Y25 bogies and new decks on top of the original decking. The wagons were re-coded BRA for use carrying rail in the Speedlink network. The five stanchions were replaced by six of a slightly different design, and tensioning ratchets were added to each side. Within a short time they began to be transferred to the engineer’s fleet, and given the fishkind name Mullet.

66711 with short engineers train of 3 x OCA and 1 x YLA Mullet at Charlton in 2019. Photo courtest Adam Snow.

Revolution YLA Mullet with air brakes, tensioning ratchets and Y25 bogies

BR YLA mullet wagon – still in Railfreight red – at York. Photo courtesy Paul Bartlett.

Some of the air-braked conversions were rebuilt without bolsters but with two longitudinal timbers for carrying sleepers, and recoded YQA Parr. They also feature end flaps and small corner footsteps. Revolution is offering this variant too.

Revolution YQA Parr with Y25 bogies, longitudinal timber baulks and end plates.

33113 at Stratford with rake of YQA Parr sleeper carriers in 1990. Photo courtesy Michael Hart.

In 2010 several were rebuilt again; deck equipment was removed and ISO engineers’ modules with drop-down doors and mesh sides were fitted. These retained the YQA code but were redesignated Super Tench.

YQA Super Tench at Eastleigh in 2020. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.

Revolution YQA Super Tench with ISO modules on deck.

Due to their versatility, strength and usefulness numerous YLA Mullet, YQA Parr and YQA Super Tench wagons remain in use in 2021. They’re used for carrying almost anything the engineers may need to transport between depots or to and from possessions include rail, sleepers, equipment and waste.

YLA Mullet carrying crane lifting beam at Northampton in 2015. Photo courtesy Dan Adkins.

66703 with YQA Super Tench wagon and JNA Falcons at Eastleigh in 2020. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.

The Revolution Trains models will cover all variants and tooling allows for numerous detail differences and prototypical variations in buffers and brake wheels to enable specific wagons to be accurately represented.

Research visit to the Dean Forest Railway

Revolution Trains would like to thank the Dean Forest Railway for allowing us access to examine and measure one of the YQA wagons in their fleet, and would recommend anyone looking for a good day out to book up and enjoy a trip in their beautifully maintained stock. You can book here.

GWR Small Prairie 5541, built 1928, at the Dean Forest Railway in April with mixed raike of BR Mk1 and Mk2 stock.

The models will feature our usual attention to accuracy and detail, and the order book will be opening soon – look out for our limited-period low EarlyBird price.

Posted on 22/06/202125/06/2021 by Ben Ando

Mk5s arrive…

Revolution Trains has received first EP samples of its forthcoming Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper and Mk5a Trans Pennine Express coaching stock.

Left to right: Caledonian Sleeper Mk5 seated, club and accessible sleeper cars.

Caledonian Sleeper Mk5 coaches

The Caledonian Sleeper cars are of four types: Seated, Club (with wifi dom on roof), Accessible Sleeper (PRM) and Standard Sleeper. Each vehicle is unique with accurate underframe, interior and bodyshell variations.

Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper Club car and Accessible (PRM) Sleeper.

The models feature working Dellner type couplers in kinematic NEM pockets, though each pack will also include standard NEM couplers to enable the models to be coupled to a locomotive, as well as full interiors, saloon, cabin and vestibule lighting as standard, numerous separately fitted details – especially on the undersides – and photo-etched grilles where appropriate.

Detail showing etched parts, interiors, wifi dome and inside bearing bogies on Mk5 Club car.

Revolution is offering a total of eight different packs to enable complete Lowlander (London Euston-Glasgow/Edinburgh) or Highlander (London Euston-Aberdeen/Fort William/Inverness) rakes to be recreated or to allow shorter rakes representing the split portions of the trains to be modelled.

The diagrams show normal operating arrangements – during the last 14 months Lowlander and Highlander trains have operated from time to time in shorter forms due to reduced loadings.

92023 at Chelmcote with Caledonain Sleeper in January 2019. This train can be recreated with Revolution Trains’ Class 92023 and Mk5s.
Photo courtesy Nigel Gibbs.

Trans Pennine Express – Beacon Rail Mk5a coaches

Trans Pennine Express operate their Mk5a sets in permanent rakes of five branded Nova 3 in push-pull mode with Class 68 diesels. Each set features a driving trailer (DT), standard trailer with bicycle rack (T2), two Standard trailers (T3) and a first trailer with standard draw gear at the outer end (T1).

The Revolution models feature the same kinematic couplings and similar levels of detailing to the Mk5 sets and are available to pre-order in two complete 5-car sets.

Inner end of T1 car, and outer end of DT car.

In addition to the interior saloon and vestibule lighting on all cars as standard, the DT features directional head and tail lights at the cab end.

Underside of DT car showing details, wire sanding pipes and bogie bearings and power pickups.

TPE Nova 3 at Keckwick in January 2019. Photo courtesy Dave Harris.

Caledonian Sleeper and TPE operating routes.

Once the samples have been assessed and checked decorated samples will be prepared before the models go into production.

Purchase Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper and Mk5a Trans Pennine Nova 3 sets

Posted on 19/06/202125/06/2021 by Ben Ando

Decorated samples are MMA-rvelous…

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming MMA/JNA ‘Ealnos’ box wagons in N gauge.

There are now nearly 1000 Ealnos in service, with more on order, and since their introduction in 2016 by DB they have rapidly become the dominant big box wagon on the network. DB wagons are coded MMA under TOPS, all other versions are coded JNA.

DB Cargo MMA ‘Ealnos’ wagons being unloaded at Warrington Dallam freight terminal in 2019. Photo courtesy Peter Laithwaite.

As well as being used on well-established flows from quarries in the Derbyshire Peaks, Midlands and Mendip hills in Somerset, they are often seen on spot hire trains usually in VTG dark blue. The spot-hire trains are usually used for short-term flows and since all they need for loading or unloading is a bucket grab they can be seen almost anywhere.

N-EAL-104A JNA in VTG blue ‘spot-hire’ livery

59206 with Ealnos wagons in Touax red and VTG Mendip rail silver. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.

Mendip stone trains – previously operated by DB, but now handled by Freightliner – use both VTG silver and Touax red JNA wagons; both among the variants offered by Revolution.

The wagons are also used for stone trains from quarries in the East Midlands, some with Tarmac branding and some without, and these versions are also being offered along with two versions in GBRf livery and in the latest Cappagh mid-blue. The Cappagh wagons operate in both branded and unbranded versions, and both are available.

N-EAL-106C GBRf/Ermewa and N-EAL-107A VTG/Cappagh.

Some versions are available with flashing tail lamps (look for the L code suffix) and the wagons will be provided with drop-in moulded loads. The images show the loads before final stone texture is engraved in the tooling.

As always, the wagons will feature Revolution’s high levels of detail and reflect our obsession with accuracy, including three different arrangements of brake equipment.

Models have prototypically accurate variations in brake gear.

Other versions on offer include VTG mid blue, VTG plain silver and Ermewa unbranded grey.

Subject to some very small amendments and adjustments these wagons are now approved and awaiting a production slot. We expect to close the order book within the next 6-8 weeks, but until then they can be ordered at the low pre-production price.

Purchase N gauge MMA/JNA ‘Ealnos’ box wagons

Posted on 18/06/202125/06/2021 by Ben Ando

Parcels to go!

Revolution Trains has opened the order book for its forthcoming Class 128 Parcels unit, with a low Earlybird price of £120 available until midnight on 16th July 2021.

Revolution is offering six versions, covering the entire lives of these units from their introduction in 1960 to their final withdrawal in 1990, and in both Midland Region centre headcode and Western Region gangwayed versions.

CAD has been approved and tooling is underway. We are anticipating that EP1 samples will be here in 6-8 weeks.

M55990 at Manchester Victoria. Photo courtesy Mark Carter.

As well as the gangway/non-gangway variation, the tooling has been designed to allow variations including round, oval or clipped buffers, sandbox variations, differences in exhausts and plated headcode boxes.

For those modelling the BR Green/transition era, two models are on offer: M55987 in green with speed whiskers, and W55994 in BR green with speed whiskers.

BR Blue era enthusiasts have M55990 in Parcels Service livery with domino headcode displays – as carried from the mid-1970s until its withdrawal, and W55991 also in all-over blue with plated headcodes, representing this unit from 1981 onwards.

Finally we are offering two units in the eye-catching 1980s-90s Royal Mail red livery; one has plated-over headcode boxes but retains the gangway, the other has the last end variation: fully flush with the gangways removed.

Note: CAD images show approved designs. Some details (eg buffers, exhausts) may vary on production models following further research. Livery diagrams are basic graphic images for illustrative purposes only.

N-128-55987A – M55987 in BR green with speed whiskers

N-128-55994A – W55994 in BR green livery with single speed whiskers

N-128-55990A – M55990 in BR blue with yellow ends and domino headcode display

N-128-55991A – W55991 in BR blue with yellow ends and plated over headcodes with marker lights

N-128-55992A – 55992 in Royal Mail red with gangway and plated over headcodes with marker lights

N-128-55993A – M55993 in Royal Mail red with plated gangway and plated headcodes

Purchase N gauge Class 128 parcels unit

Posted on 10/03/202110/03/2021 by Ben Ando

Read All About it! Projects updated!!

Now that the Chinese New Year holiday is over and we are well into the Year of the Ox, Revolution Trains has received latest information on the development of its new projects and production of existing ones such as the Sonic Models 56xx 0-6-2T locomotive and our Class 320/321 electric multiple units, both in N. Due to Covid and other factors some models are a little delayed, we understand that this is always disappointing to customers but we would rather the factories made sure that the models were as good as possible rather than rushed out.

We have also agreed a slight delay to the start of the production of the second run of Pendolinos as many of our customers asked us for more time to be able to place an order.

The latest information is on our Projects Page – before contacting us asking for an update on any projects please check the Projects Page – we do our best to keep it updated and it always has the latest information.

Posted on 24/02/202106/03/2021 by Ben Ando

PEP talk – Class 313/314 CAD unveiled!

CAD has been finalised on the forthcoming Revolution Trains Class 313 and 314 ‘PEP’ electric multiple units.

313 DMSO – current version with hi intensity headlight

Versions with the original and revised headlights are being offered, and with the CAD almost signed off tooling will begin shortly.

Once the models are delivered we anticipate that some models will be available from retailers, but at a higher MSRP to include their margins.

The launch liveries are:

First Capital Connect ‘Urban Lights’ 2006-2014

Southern ‘Coastway’ 2010-present.
*Note: the prototypes have photo vinyls next to the door not featured in this preliminary impression.*

In addition to the variants offered above, there are interesting specials and one offs. These will not be part of Revolution’s own production, but we are hopeful of producing one or more as a retailer exclusive.

313121 Network Rail ‘Delivering future signalling’ 2014-present

313201 Southern heritage BR Blue. 2017-present.
This is the first 313 PEP unit built, and was repainted after being confirmed for the National Collection.

Arlington Fleet Services T7 EMU translator car twin set.
These two former driving cars are used for loco-hauled MU positioning moves.
Note T7 units will have standard couplers at non-cab end, not power coupler illustrated.

Revolution is also offering the very similar Class 314 units that operated in Scotland from the late 1970s. There are some minor differences with the 313s and these will be depicted where possible. Please note there are some configurations with the CAD that need tweaking, such as the shoegear which is not present on the 314.

The Class 314s have carried four liveries; Revolution is initially offering those covering the period from 1983, when the first blue grey unit received the striking Strathclyde PTE orange and black, until 2019 when the last 314s were withdrawn.

Once the tooling begins we will be opening the order book – it will likely be a couple of months time. As ever there will be a discounted Earlybird price for the first couple of months or so, after which it’ll go up to the standard pre-order price.

Posted on 23/02/202121/02/2021 by Ben Ando

Drax-tacular! Biomass hopper samples arrive

Revolution Trains has received EP1 samples of the Drax Power IIA-D biomass hoppers, which are available to order exclusively from Rails of Sheffield.

The models represent the 225 IIA-D ‘Tafoos’ hoppers now in service with Drax power and used to transport biomass from sea ports on Merseyside, Tyneside and Humberside to Drax Power station in Yorkshire. Drax is the UK’s largest power station, generating more than 6% of the UK’s power needs, and is expecting to convert to 100% biomass in 2021.

60076 with Drax hoppers at Gauxholme. Photo Neil Harvey.

The EP1 samples are to check the fit of parts and that the basic dimensions are correct. The prototypes are 17640mm over headstocks, which is 119mm in 1:148 scale.

Bogie brakewheel is missing on this side. It will be present on production models.

The models are being offered in twin packs in three different iterations of Drax livery – original, Northern Powerhouse and the new ‘Renewable Pioneers’ versions. They are being retailed exclusively by Rails of Sheffield.